Self Defence and Neijia Classes

Neijia – Self Defence Classes

Neijia incorporates effective, efficient, methods for self defence that do not rely on strength.

Training begins with basic strikes and Chin Na (locks) and advances to the use of Dim Mak (point strikes and presses).

Neijia is not a sport oriented “martial art”. The methods used are designed to overcome and defeat an attacker with precision.

Many of the Dim Mak strikes taught by San Bao Martial Arts are extremely dangerous and should only be used in life threatening circumstances.

Real life is not the training hall where there are rules and regulations to be adhered to regarding what self defence techniques can and cannot be used. Out in the streets there is no referee to intervene when “rules” are being broken. In real life, any attack will unpredictable. Your opponent is not required to adhere to particular rules of combat. Your defence must be spontaneous, effective and decisive. That spontaneity, effectiveness and decisiveness is at the root of Neijia.

Our basic self-preservation instinct is “flight or fight” when faced with an impending attack. Do we immediately try to run away in the hope that we can outpace our attacker? Do we lash out wildly in the hope that we get one lucky hit? Either way, each action is born of fear.
There is a third option that is open to those who have the ability and confidence that self defence training brings. You can defend yourself effectively, efficiently and confidently.

Three ranges of attack are covered in the self defence classes: When the attacker is within striking range, when the attacker is within grabbing range and when the attacker has dragged you to the ground. Students are taught methods to defend themselves in each of these cases.

Utilising weapons at hand (this can be anything from a pen to a magazine).

Neijia History

Although Neijia Quan (Internal Fist) was developed as a discrete martial art (as described by Haung Baijia in “Neijia Quan” c. 1676), the name Neijia is now usually used as a generic description for such arts as Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Ch’uan), Bagua Quan (Pakua Ch’uan)and Xingyi Quan (Hsing I Ch’uan). This “modern” identification can be traced back to 1892 when some of the, then, masters of these Internal styles met in Peking and decided to bring them together as one family, using Neijia (Quan) to describe the three arts. This distinction was strengthened in the 1920’s when Sun Lutang differentiated between Neijia and Waijia (lit, internal sect and external sect). However, there are other Chinese martial arts that lay claim to being Neijia either totally, or in part (using a blend of internal and external application and training).